(Newser)
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Any interview with Paula Abdul has acres of fertile ground to cover, and this Thursday's sit-down with ABC's Nightline is no exception. In excerpts released early, Abdul calls Simon Cowell a "masterful bully," says there's no tension between her and new Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, denies ever being drunk or on drugs during the show, and sidesteps a question about whether she'll renew her contract after this season, the New York Post reports.

Abdul says she found Cowell so abrasive and cruel to contestants on her first day that she quit—seven times. The resignations apparently didn't take. Asked whether alcohol or prescription drugs might explain her sometimes loopy behavior, Abdul flatly denied it. “I’ve never been drunk in my life,” she said. “It's not my thing." Abdul calls DioGuardi a friend and says she's enjoying this season more than any other. But after calling herself irreplaceable, she does not directly answer whether she will return.

I had chronic insomnia for 36 years, then I started using pot for my sciatica. Now it takes anywhere from 5 -30 minutes to fall asleep.

Jojo

Apr 22, 2009 4:24 AM CDT

After watching her reality show that was on last year or the year before, I honestly know EXACTLY what makes her loopy. It showed the entire process on her show, and sadly its something I also do and I don't know why. I cannot sleep like a normal person. I sleep once every two days. I can NOT fall asleep after being up 14 or so hours even if I am unbelievably tired, which means I end up going 2 or 2 1/2 days without sleep, and before I end up falling asleep, I am pretty much like Paula. I even have trouble finding the right word sometimes when I speak, at least toward the end. I don't take any medicine or drugs of any kind and if you saw me at the end of the 2nd day, you would think I was on something. It's sad, but it's the way I've been my entire life. Thankfully my friends and relatives don't accuse me of being on anything because they know better.